Metro Perc never closed its doors during a hectic month of changes, but on Saturday, Nov. 9, the coffee shop off Barrows Road will host a grand reopening under new ownership.

A group of four Beaverton and Hillsboro residents took over the coffee house and drive-through on Oct. 1. Ned Macaddino and Katie Regan teamed up with Robert and Julie Jepsen to bring a new flavor to Metro Perc, though all four hold down separate full-time jobs.

Because the crew is new to being business owners, the learning curve has been steep and often challenging, Macaddino noted. Moving forward, he added, will be the fun part.

“Just owning a coffee shop for us was the dream we always had as entrepreneurs, but we never had the chance before,” Macaddino said. “Every time we walk in, it’s just cool to think it’s ours.”

View full sizeMetro Perc's new owners are offering some new baked goods on the menu.Kari Bray/Beaverton Leader

Since purchasing the shop, the four have started making incremental improvements, Macaddino and Regan said. They kept existing staff members and hired a couple new baristas to make sure there are always at least two people behind the counter to better balance the shop’s main area and its drive-through window.

John Stephenson, who has worked at Metro Perc for two years, became the coffee house’s first manager.

A more structured leadership and increased staffing has been key to making things run smoother, he said.

Other changes at Metro Perc include new baked goods, a smaller and more specialized menu, and a new coffee vendor: locally owned Dovetail Coffee Roasters.

Supporting other local businesses is vital, Macaddino and Regan said, as is listening to customer suggestions. The owners have honed in on providing faster service and consistency in the quality of coffee drinks through staff training.

Metro Perc is open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. seven days a week. Regan said they hope to eventually expand the hours for special events like musical performances, poetry readings and art classes.

“I’m really excited about the changes,” Stephenson said. “I think this is a great opportunity to build kind of a hub, a place where everyone can hang out, from the student to the stay-at-home mom.”

During Saturday’s grand reopening, the shop will provide free drip coffee and hot chocolate along with raffle tickets for every $2 spent on other drinks or food. Along with an official ribbon cutting at 9 a.m., there will be face-painting from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“If you’ve given Metro Perc a shot before, give us another chance,” Regan said. “We love this community and we love this coffee shop.”

--Kari Bray

Correction: An earlier version of this post referred to Ned Macaddino as Ned Regan.